How Japan’s ruling LDP presidential election works

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election will effectively be a vote to decide Japan’s next prime minister as the coalition led by the LDP holds a majority in both chambers of parliament.

Whoever the LDP picks is almost certain to be elected Japan’s prime minister by the Diet. Lawmakers hoping to run in the LDP leadership race are required to secure at least 20 recommendations from the party’s parliament members.

Following campaigning that kicked off Thursday, the presidential election will take place on Sept. 27, with both LDP lawmakers and rank-and-file members casting ballots. The candidate who secures a majority of votes will be declared the winner.

If no candidate obtains an outright majority in the first round, a runoff between the top two contenders will be held the same day.

In the first round, each of the LDP’s 367 Diet members will cast a vote, and another 367 votes will be determined based on the preferences of rank-and-file members who hold Japanese nationality and have paid membership fees the past two years.

The deadline for voting by rank-and-file members is scheduled for Sept. 26. If a runoff is held, the 367 parliament members and each of the LDP’s 47 prefectural chapters will cast votes.

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